Finish #39

 I've finally finished Bonnie Hunter's 2022 mystery quilt, Chilhowie! I'm going to ask DH to take it somewhere to get a better photo, but for now, here's the photo I took. I'm so close to my goal of 40 finishes for the year! 

The colors don't look true at all in this pic.

This photo show the colors better. In person this quilt is rich and gorgeous! If I had known how much I was going to love this quilt, I would have made it larger so it work on my bed. I don't have enough of the fabrics I used to make another, nor did I even have enough of the orange to make it large enough to fit my bed. I could have gotten more of the purple and black, but I couldn't find more of the orange. That plum-y purple I'd love to have a whole bolt of, it is gorgeous in person. The teal I used for the background I'm on my second bolt of. 

I still have a couple Bonnie Hunter mysteries to finish. Last year I did two colorways of Indigo Way. One of those is finished, one is not. The one that isn't I completely changed the setting on, and the center is together but I need to add borders. The other Bonnie Hunter mystery that isn't finished is Rhododendron Trail. I wasn't a big fan of that quilt, and divided the blocks into two separate quilts. I know one of those is partially assembled, but I honestly have no idea where I'm at on the second. 

I'm skipping this year's mystery and if I have all my other mystery quilts finished before next year, I might dive in next year. Sometimes I need a break from mystery quilts.

My parents got their Christmas gifts, and I told them to open them early. I made them Quilted Hugs. They live in New England where winters are cold, and considering their kids are retiring, you can imagine they aren't youngsters anymore. It's easy enough to put a blanket on your body while sitting down, but keeping your shoulders warm is tricky. When I saw the Quilted Hugs, I thought they could get a lot of use out of them. 

Since they already opened them, here are some pics.

This is my mom's. I bought the jelly roll I used for it last year during a Black Friday sale, specifically to make her this Quilted Hug. She loves blue and the pearlescence on the fabric was just too pretty to not get for her.

My dad loves watching the squirrels, and when I saw the fabric line the Secret Life of Squirrels, I knew I needed to get some. I bought two of the focus fabrics, plus some acorn fabric, then the rest was stash. 

I got to give a couple of the grands their first sewing lessons this week.

They are both into playing Minecraft, so I had them make Minecraft placemats. It was an easy first project. 

I've got the layout for the Greek mystery now, so that's what I'll be working on this next week, but while I was waiting, I was working on some scrap quilts. 

This did not use up the blue scraps, so there will be more blue quilts coming up. I've got this quilt assembled now. 

This used up some of the autumn colored scraps I was given, as well as an autumn colored applique panel I was given. How old do you think that applique panel was, late 1970's, early 1980's? There wasn't a date on it.  I added in some orphan leaf blocks to make a better number of blocks for the quilt. I love giving forgotten fabrics a home! 

DH and I have been discussing what I would get rid of should we need to downsize quickly, and most of the house is pretty easy, but my quilting stuff is where I would struggle. Offhand, I'd say I'd try to keep any widebacks I have on hand, fat quarters and scraps, any bolts of fabric I have, and I'd get rid of most of my yardage. I'd likely keep most of my quilt kits as well, but probably not all. Scrap quilts are my favorite to make, and even when I go with a strict color scheme, the more different fabrics the better. My best plan is to use up as much as I can before that becomes an issue! I love my stash of fabric, tools and notions, it would really be the hardest part of downsizing for me. We don't have imminent plans to downsize, but there are several scenarios possible that would encourage that. Time will tell, but it's always good to have a plan. 

Christmas Gifts Finished!

Sorry, I've got no photos this post. I've been busy making the last of the Christmas gifts, and I can't show them right now. This is the first time in YEARS I've actually made everything I wanted to. Normally I end up running out of time and crossing stuff off my list. I'm pretty happy with getting it all done. Everything that needed to be mailed is also mailed, with the exception of some Christmas cards. 

Often I'm neck deep in Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt this time of year as well, and although I'm following the mystery, I have no desire to do it this year. The reveal for the Greek murder mystery comes out next week, and with my Christmas gifts done, and not doing another mystery, I can get right into the assembling of that quilt top when the reveal does come out. 

I'm really appreciating having a slow finish to the year, instead of a mad dash in the sewing room. That doesn't mean we won't be plenty busy in other areas. Starting the last Sunday in December, we are hosting or co-hosting parties three weekends in a row, and none of those are a retirement party for DH! I'm kind of doubting we'll end up doing a retirement party, since he's retiring at such a busy time of year. He's also been working from home for about a year now, and that changes the work dynamics quite a bit. 

I started FMQ another quilt now that the quilted gifts are done. Piecing wise I'm working on some scrap blocks in an effort to empty a couple project boxes. I like to pre-cut my deadline quilts, and I have two in particular I want to get cut out. If I could get those two quilts cut out by the first of the year, that would be a huge win for me. 

This weekend I've got two of the grands, and one of them at least, will be getting his first sewing lesson. If that goes well, I might try one with his younger brother. I have two projects prepped and ready to go for them, so we'll see. It depends on how they are feeling too, since they've been sick this week.

Hopefully next week I'll have photos for you, maybe a quilt finish, or maybe just the Greek mystery quilt on the design wall.